Sudan's Conflict Enters Fourth Year as UN Decries 'Abandoned Crisis'
Sudan has now entered a devastating fourth year of war, characterised by widespread famine, brutal massacres, and severe strain on essential supplies. The United Nations has starkly described the situation as an "abandoned crisis," with the ongoing conflict in the Middle East overshadowing the fighting that has forced approximately 13 million people to flee their homes.
A Humanitarian Catastrophe Unfolding
This conflict represents the world's largest humanitarian challenge, particularly in terms of displacement and hunger. There appears to be no end in sight to the hostilities between the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which witnesses and aid organisations report have devastated large parts of the vast Darfur region.
Regional powers, including the United Arab Emirates, are increasingly implicated in backing combatants covertly. Efforts by the United States and regional actors to broker a ceasefire have failed, partly due to distraction caused by the Iran war.
"This grim and chastening anniversary marks another year when the world has failed to meet the test of Sudan," stated United Nations humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher.
The Stark Numbers of Suffering
The human cost is staggering. At least 59,000 individuals have been killed, with a shocking 6,000 deaths occurring over just three days in October as the RSF rampaged through the Darfur outpost of el-Fasher. U.N.-backed experts have concluded this offensive bore "the defining characteristics of genocide."
Famine has now gripped parts of Sudan. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, the foremost global authority on food security, warned in February that the number of people suffering from severe acute malnutrition—the most dangerous form—is expected to rise to 800,000.
Approximately 34 million Sudanese, nearly two-thirds of the population, require humanitarian assistance. Only 63% of health facilities remain fully or partially operational amidst outbreaks of diseases like cholera, according to the World Health Organization.
Compounding the crisis, fuel prices in Sudan have surged by over 24% due to the Iran war's impact on shipping, further driving up food costs.
"A plea from me: Please don’t call this the forgotten crisis. I’m referring to this as an abandoned crisis," said Denise Brown, the top U.N. official in Sudan, on Monday, criticising the international community's failure to prioritise ending the violence.
Roots and Regional Spillover Risks
The war erupted from a power struggle following Sudan's transition to democracy after the 2019 uprising that ousted longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir. Tensions flared between military chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, who chairs the ruling sovereign council, and RSF commander Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, formerly Burhan's deputy.
Sudan is now effectively divided, with a military-backed, internationally recognised government in Khartoum and a rival RSF-controlled administration in Darfur. Neither side can secure a decisive victory, according to Sudanese journalist and researcher Shamel Elnoor, who noted that Sudanese citizens "have become powerless and are subjected to foreign dictates."
The military controls the north, east, and central regions, including Sudan's Red Sea ports and oil infrastructure. The RSF and its allies dominate Darfur and areas in the Kordofan region bordering South Sudan, regions rich in oil fields and gold mines.
While Egypt supports Sudan's military, the UAE faces accusations from U.N. experts and rights groups of arming the RSF, which it denies. The Yale School of Public Health’s Humanitarian Research Lab reported this month that the RSF received military support from a base in Ethiopia, an allegation the RSF has not commented on.
Josef Tucker, senior analyst for the Horn of Africa at the International Crisis Group, warned The Associated Press that the war could spill over Sudan's borders, potentially making the conflict "even more intractable."
Atrocities and War Crimes Investigations
Three years of fighting have been marked by widespread atrocities, including mass killings and rampant sexual violence, such as gang rapes. Hospitals, ambulances, and medical workers have been attacked, resulting in over 2,000 deaths, the WHO reports.
The International Criminal Court is investigating potential war crimes and crimes against humanity, especially in Darfur—a region already synonymous with genocide from two decades ago. Most recent atrocities are blamed on the RSF and their Janjaweed allies, Arab militias notorious for early 2000s crimes in Darfur, from which the RSF originated.
"We have … no reason at all to believe it will stop the mass atrocities that we saw in el-Fasher," stated U.N. official Denise Brown.
In early 2025, the military's seizure of Khartoum and other urban areas allowed about 4 million people to return home, according to the U.N. migration agency in March. However, they face damaged infrastructure and immense challenges.
"It’s not really a return to normal. It is trying to survive amidst a new normal," said Tjada D’Oyen McKenna, CEO of aid group Mercy Corps.
